Hook & Ladder Gets Grant For Computerized Tools

By Andrew Gorosko

The Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Company has been awarded more than $42,000 in federal grant money to obtain computer hardware and software to help the organization plan its responses to fires and other incidents, and also to manage its personnel while at the scene of emergencies.

US Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman announced the $42,812 grant award to Hook & Ladder. The grants are provided through the US Fire Administration’s program for fire prevention and safety. In the grant program, the federal government covers 95 percent of costs, with the fire companies assuming the remaining five percent.

Hook & Ladder is one of five local volunteer fire companies.

Dave Ober, the second assistant fire chief at Newtown Hook & Ladder, applied for the technology grant on behalf of the fire company.

The computer hardware and software will serve as management tools to help the organization better plan for fires and other incidents, and also to manage firefighters who are working at fires and other incidents, he said.

The fire company is seeking six “ruggedized” laptop computers through the grant program, Mr Ober said. Such computers are more durable than conventional laptops, being designed for harsh conditions.

The software to be acquired through the grant would provide firefighters with capabilities for mapping, fire planning, and incident planning, Mr Ober said.

Other software would provide an “accountability” system to be used to manage firefighters’ activities at fires and other emergencies.

The computer hardware/software combination will allow firefighters to use a computer database to collect, store, and retrieve pertinent information, as needed, in handling emergencies, he said.

Mr Ober is a former Hook & Ladder fire chief, having served in that post for eight years. 

Besides Newtown Hook & Ladder, other federal fire grant money was awarded to fire companies in Newington and Dayville.

“We owe our firefighters our deepest gratitude for the work they do, but they also deserve our utmost support. These grants will help to provide the equipment and training necessary to protect our firefighters and help them continue to keep their communities safe,” Sen Dodd said in a statement.